Alicia, the "WC" is the water closet, or toilet room. Not silly at all to ask . . . I'm the original "what does that mean" person!! By folding table, I actually meant a table for folding clothes, not that the table itself folds. I'll take a photo as soon as I can . . . right now the W/D are in the middle of the room so trim carpenters can finish behind it. Here's another idea: Would you consider putting the actual closet in the garage? You and your guys could keep current coats/jackets on the hooks behind the bench, and use the closet for storing out-of-season things. If you removed the closet from the mud room, it would open up lots more space for both laundry and benches. In our last house, we had a wall rack for grubby outerwear in the garage, and liked the idea so much that we're repeating it in this house, adding a bench under the rack so we can get rid of gardening & yardwork jackets and boots before ever entering the house. This bench will be very utilitarian -- no glamour at all! Just inside the side entrance, we'll have a more finished, nice bench with beadboard backing and places for normal outerwear. We loved keeping really nasty stuff confined to the garage. My last laundry room had a deep plastic utility sink, which was okay but it stained easily. This time my countertop people had a couple of Kohler SS single-bowl sinks that they'd bought for a display and never used -- they gave me such a good price that I felt like I was stealing them!! I'm using one of them in the laundry room. I should be able to get a photo of my folding table tomorrow or Tuesday -- check back then.

jane: you're outnumbered!! :) And I did not know about the panel ready CDs, but the pics I've seen don't thrill me. I only like the look of panel ready when they are completely built in and you really have to know where they are to find them - and that's not in the budget! deedles - so true on the traffic. And, really, it's me and 2 kids. DH is rarely home when I'm cooking and we entertain, but not a ton. The oven is currently right next to the tiniest aisle and doorway to the DR so there is TONS of traffic there. This would be better for sure. And we currently have no place for people to sit and talk to me - once they have a place at the peninsula, even less likely they'll be milling about in front of my stove. Maybe I'll find a work table that can double as a sideboard...then I can leave it in the DR 90% of the time, but if we are having a party with lots of kids/people we can move it in from of the cooking area for that day.

Unless you go high end, under counter units tend to be louder and less refined on the temperature control. Other than that, a fridge is a fridge. Relatives have a new GE undercounter fridge. 4-5cf. It holds a surprising amount. Drawer fridges/freezers are easier to use, in general, but cost more. Organizing bins or bags can help with a door fridge. I have a 24" wide drawer unit, and it'll hold a 25 lb. turkey in the carton it was shipped in.

@Kerry - the bedspread - started with a grey checkered one and replaced with a white one with grey border. planning on replacing with another one - still white but a bit more grey throughout (vs just the border). I wasn't sure if you were thinking the white one was too white (when you commented to post with the new bed spread).